Nosing-in apparatus for shell forgings



July 16,1946. v LE ROY LAYTON 2,404,304

NOSING-IN APPARATUS FOR SHELL FORGINGS 5 Sheets-Sheet. 2

y 1946- LE ROY LAYTON NOSING-INAPPARATUS FOR SHELL FORGINGS Filed June 4, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 1946; LE ROY LAYTQN I 7 2,404,304

I W USING-IN APPARATUS FOR SHELL FORGINGS I Filed June 4, 1342 5 Sheets-Sheei 4 y 1946. LE ROY 'LAYTON NOSING-I N APPARATUS FOR SHELL FORGINGS Filed June 4, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheets Patented July 16, 1946 I NOSING-IN APPARATUS FOR SHELL FORGINGS Le Roy Layton, Lansdowne, Pa., assignor to Lansdowne Steel & Iron Company, Morton, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 4, 1942, Serial No. 445,797

13 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for work: ing hollow forgings, such for example as explosiveshell forgings, and particularly to what is known in the art of ordnance manufacture as a nosingin die, i. e. a device adapted to be employed with a hydraulic or mechanical press for radially reducing the normally hollow cylindrical open end of a shell forging into a longitudinally curved gradually tapering nose, having an axial opening adapted to be threaded to receive an impact or time fuse detonator by which the charge of explosive contained in the finished shell is fired.

In the manufacture of shell forgings, the axial cavit extending inwardly from the open end of the primary forging, and which eventually constitutes the explosive chamber of the shell, is finished first, after which the external surface is turned down concentrically to the interior surface of the axial cavity, from the closed base end of the shell along a substantial portion of the length of the shell, before the open end of the forging is radially contracted to form the nose of the shell.

The radial contracting of the open end of shell forgings has presented many recognized and well know problems to the ordnance manufacturers such as off -set nosing, axial distortion, wall thickness irregularity, etc. resulting from the many different methods and apparatuses employed.

One object of the present invention is to pro-- vide a nosing-in die by which axial rectilinearity of the shell from end to end will be accurately maintained, and by which concentricity of the inner and outer surfaces of the hollow forging will be retained throughout the nosing-in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an accurately centering chuck for embracing and rigidifying the cylindrical portion of the forging to prevent longitudinal distortion thereof during the nosing-in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for accurately guiding the chuck in true axial alignment with the nosing-in die throughout relative axial movement between the chuck and the die, or vice versa, during the nosing-in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a self-centering wedge ring for centering the base end of the shell forging in the body of the chuck prior to the closing of the radially movable jaws of the chuck into circumferentially embracing contact with the forging.

'The construction and operation of the apparatus forming the subject matter of the present invention will be fully disclosed hereinafter reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

ram partly lowered and effecting centering of the shell in the chuck and closing of the chuck around the shell;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs.-2 and 3, showing the ram in its fully lowered position with the open end of the forging nosed-inby the nosing-in die;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are sectional plan views taken on the lines 5-5, Fig. 2, 6-6, Fig. 4, and 'I-'I, Fig. 4 respectively;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation taken on the line H 8-8, Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a face view of one of the chuck jaws. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the device of the present invention comprises a pair of units A and A of identical construction, secured to a horizontally movable table B, which is slidably mounted on the fixed base C of a conventional vertical forging press, for shifting of either of the units A or A into axial alignment with the vertically reciprocable ram D, and ejector E of the press.

' Primarily the device includes a frusto-conical nosing-in die block I, which rests on the upper face I) of the table B and is provided with a central depending centering boss 2 which snugly fits within a counter bore b in the table B.

The die block I is centrally bored to the shape of the finished nose f of the shell forging F (Fig. 4) as indicated at 3.

The frusto-conical die block I is fitted into a filler ring 4 having a tapered bore corresponding to the exterior of the block I.

The filler ring 4 is shouldered circumferentially adjacent its lower end and fitted into a base block 5 which is secured, by bolts 5a, to the table B.

The filler ring 4 is also circumferentially shouldered adjacent its upper end to receive the lower end of an annular guide block 6 which also rests on the top of the base block 5 and is secured thereto by bolts 1.

Slidably mounted in the annular. guide block 6 between the die block I and a limit ring 8 placed f I2-of the chuck body Ii 'Radial movement of the jaws I3, I3 islimited by pins I8 depending from the operating ring i i segmental chuck jaws I3, I3.

Each of the jaws I3 is provided with a T shaped head I 4 which is slidably mounted in a similar T shaped groove I5 formed in the lowerendof a jaw operating ring I6. I

The inner face I? of each jaw I3 is concave and finished on a radius corresponding to the radius of the outside surface of the forging- The outside surface of each jaw I3 is convex, with the upperpart straight and the lower part tapered, in accordance with the straight cyiirn drical and tapered surfaces of the bores II and into elongated grooves I 3 formed in the tops of the T heads I l of thejaws IS.

Th upper portion of the operating ring I 6 has a tapered bore ze'which surrounds a frusto-conical end portion For the shell forging F.

Adapted to enter the flaring top of the annular groove formed between the tapered and conical surfaces of the ring It and forging F, is an annular wedge 2| having outer and inner inclined surfaces 22 and 23 adapted to engage the inclined surfaces 29 and f of the ring It and forging F, respectively, and a straight cylindrical bore 7 adapted to engage and embrace the outer straight cylindrical surface f of the forging F,for centering and holding the forging in the chuck.

The wedge ring '2! is carried by a disc-like base 25 which is provided with a vertical annular flange 26 of slightly larger inside diameter than a punch block 27 which is securedto hc underside of the rain D. The fi'ange 23 is radiallybored 2,404,304 f. I i -li enters the open mouth at the upper end of the tapering bore 3 of the die I. I

As the ram D continues to move downwardly, the open end of the forging is forced deeper into the tapering bore 3 of the die I and effects radial contraction, with some axial elongation, of the cylindrical wall 5 of the forging F, adjacent the open end of the. forging, as shown in Fig. 4, thus effecting the so called nosing-in of the forging. During the nosing-in operation, the annular circumferential rib f is eradicated and the metal thereof, by being forced radially inwardly, displaces the metal of the wall f of the forging F inwardly adjacent the open end thereof and forms an inner ridge i on the inside of the hollow forging, whiledisplacement of the metal in the tapered end f reacts to form a substantially cyat 28 for reception of hanger studs 29 which fit into the radial bores 28, loosely, and support the annular wedge 24 for lateral shifting and selfaligning with respect to the chuck ring I6, when the ram descends frcmthe position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3.

As the ram D moves in the mannerjust described, the flaring face 23 of the wedge slides downon the tapering face I of the forging F to center the ring relative to the forging. The tapering face 22 of the wedge ring 2i then slides into and seats against the flaring face 223' of the chuck ring It, thereby centering the wedge ring 2| and the forging relative to the chuck ring IS. As the ram moves downwardly and assumes the position of Fig. 3, the chuck ring i'fimoves downwardly with respect to the body Id of the chuck, causing the outside tapering faces of the chuck jaws I3 to slide down on the'inside flaring face I2 of thechuck body I El, thereby effecting radially inward-Inovement of thechuck jaws I3, until theinner concave faces I I engage the outside cylindrical surface f of the forging F. Further downward movement of, the ram D slides the chuck body it downwardly in the bore 9 of the guide block 3, and carries the embraced forging F downwardly toward the die I.

The outer cylindricalsurface f of the forging F is provided with a circumferential rib i adjacent the open end of the forging and which provides a taperingendsu'rface'j thereon, which lindrical bore f in the open end of the forging for threading to receive the detonator which is screwed into the forging and constitutes the apex or nose of the shell.

The downward movement of the chuck ring I6 relative to the chuck body It is at all times opposed by a series of spring-pressed plungers- 3Q,

35 (Figs. 6 and 8), and the descent of the chuck body It in the guide block 5 is at all times opposed by compression of springs or of elastic-fluid trapped in a series ofcylinders 3i, ill, formed in the guide block 6 (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6).

In each of the cylinders 3| is a plunger 32 which is connected to a radially extending ear 33 carried by the chuck body It. The elastic fluid is constantly admitted to the bottoms of the cylinders 3|, through passages 34 from an annular passage 35 formed in the base block and'which is connected, by a pipe (-35, to an expansion tank, in which the elastic fluid is trapped ,under predetermined pressure, or to a compressor by which any desired pressure may be supplied to the cylinders 3i, '3! uniformly.

' As the ram D rises, the trapped elastic fluid in the cylinders 3 I, 3i reacts to raise the chuck body in until stopped by the limit ring 8, after which the spring-pressed plungers 3!], 3t react to raise the chuck ring I 6 relative'to the-body It and thereby permit outward radial movement of the chuck jaws I3, I3 to release the nosed-in shell forging F.

In order to loosen the lower nosed-in end of the forging F from the die I, if there shouldbe any sticking of the forging in the die, the ejector E, which is common in hydraulic or mechanical presses, is operated to raise a plunger til, which is slidably mounted in the table B to engage the nose end of the forgingand loosen, it in the die I.

After the ram D is raised to its maximum position shown in Fig. '1, the table "B is shifted lat erally to move the device A out of alignment with the ram D, for replacementof the nosed-in forging F with a new primary forging,.and to bring the device A in which a new primary forging has been deposited, into vertical alignment with the ram D, thus the replacements can be made'with the forgings out in the open from beneath the ram, which makes it possible to use a shortened travel of the ram with a consequent saving in operating costs.

It will be understood that the slide 13 may be eliminated and a single nosi'ngein die structure I rigidly mounted on the base C of the press, in fixed axial alignment with the ram 'D, if desired, in which case the upward travel of the-ram would be increased sufficiently tdpermit the 'forgings to be readily placed in and removed from the die; I

It will also be understood that the nosing-in device of the present invention is equally applicable for use with cold or hot forgings; and that, in either-case, the chuck is adapted to embrace the forging at the place where radial expansion is most likely to occur as a result of axial compression caused by radial reduction during nosing-in of the open end of the forging.

I claim: p 1; A nosing-in device, comprising a die having a bore of progressively decreasing diameter, a chuck for circumferentially embracing a hollow forging and leaving an open end projecting axially for entrance into said bore, means enclosing said chuck circumferentially and extending axially from said die for axially aligning said chuck with said bore, and means normally spaced axially from said chuck to provide for insertion of a forging into the chuck between the chuck and said means, said means being adapted to move axially into contact with the chuck after insertion of the forging for advancing said chuck and forging axially to force the extended open end of the forging into said bore to effect radial contraction thereof.

2. A nosing-in device, comprising a die having a bore of progressively decreasing diameter, a

chuck axially aligned with said bore in spaced relation t said die for receiving and circumferentially embracing a hollow forging and leaving an open end thereof projecting axially beyond saidchuck and resting in the larger end of said bore, and means normally spaced axially from saidchuck to provide for insertion of a forging into the chuck between the chuck and said means,

I, said means being adapted to move axially into contact with the chuck after insertion of the forging for advancing said chuck axially to force said projecting end of the forging into said bore and effect radial contraction thereof.

3. A nosing-in device, comprising a die having a bore of progressively decreasing diameter, a

chuck embracing and maintaining a hollow forgingin axial alignment with said bore, axially movable means for advancing said chuck toward said die and forcing a projecting open end of the forging into said bore to effect radial contraction thereof, and counter-acting means constantly active to effect reverse movement of said chuck.

4. A nosing-in device, comprising a die having a bore of progressively decreasing diameter, a chuck embracing and maintaining a hollow forging in axial alignment with said bore, means for centering th said forging in said chuck, axially movable means for advancing said centering means and said chuck toward said die and forcing a projecting open end of the forging into said bore to effect radial contraction thereof, counter-acting means constantly active to effect reverse movement of said chuck, and counter-acting means carried by said chuck for effecting release of said chuck from the forging upon reverse movement of said centering means.

5. A nosing-in device, comprising a die having a bore of progressively decreasing diameter, a chuck including a ring having an open center axially aligned with said bore, a series of jaws operable by said ring and movable radially to the axis of said chuck for circumferentially embracing one portion of a hollow forging and leaving an open end portion thereof projecting axially beyond said jaws to enter the larger end of said bore, and means including an annular element having universal free movement in a plane trans verse to the axis of said chuck for circumferentially embracing the oppos'te end of said forging to align said forging with said ring and movable axially toward said die for initially actuating said ring to close said jaws around said forging and subsequently to force said forging end into said bore.

6. A nosing-in device, comprising a die having a bore of progressively decreasing diameter, a chuck including a ring having an open center axially aligned with said bore'for receiving a hollow forging, a series of jaws intermediate said ring and said die and movable radially to the axis of said chuck for circumferentialy embracing said forging with an open end portion thereof seated in the larger end of said bore, and means movable axially toward and into the open center of said chuck ring for drawing the opposite end of said forging into axial alignment with said open center of said chuck ring.

'7. A nosing-in device, comprising a die' having a bore of progressively decreasing diameter, a

cylindrical guide axially aligned with said bore, a cylindrical chuck body slidably mounted in said guide, a series of jaws slidably mounted for axial and radial movement in said body, axially converging surfaces on said jaws engaging corresponding surfaces in said body, and an axially movable ring carried by and axially aligned with said body and engageable with said jaws toeffect axial movement of said jaws relative to said body and radial movement thereof by said corresponding surfaces into exterior contact with a hollow forging passed through said ring into said body between said jaws, V

8. A nosing-indevice, comprising a die having a bore of progressively decreasing diameter, a cylindrical guide axially aligned with said bore,

1 a cylindrical chuck body slidably mounted in said guide, a series of jaws slidably mounted for axial and radial movement in said body, axially converging surfaces on said jaws engaging corresponding surfaces in said body, a ring carried by and axially aligned with said body and engageable with said jaws to effect axial movement of said jaws relative to said body and radial movement thereof by said corresponding surfaces into exterior contact with a hollow forging passed through said ring into said body between said jaws, said ring having a radialy flared mouth, an annular element for encircling one end of said forging, and axially converging surfaces on said annular element for entering said flared mouth to center said forging in said chuck.

9. A nosing-in device, comprising a die having a bore of progressively decreasing diameter, a

cylindrical guide axially aligned with said bore, a cylindrical chuck body slidably mounted in said guide, a series of jaws slidably mounted for axial and radial movement in said body, axially converging surfaces on said jaws engaging corresponding surfaces in said body, a ring carried by and axially aligned with said body and engageable with said jaws to effect axial movement of said jaws relative to said body and radial movement thereof by said corresponding surfaces into exterior contact with a hollow forging passed through said ring into said body between said jaws, said ring having a radially flared mouth,

said forging, axially converging surfaces on said annular element for entering said flared mouth to center said forging in said chuck, a plunger for moving said annular element into said ring, and

an annular element for encircling oneend of verging surfaces on said: jaws v said guide, a series of jaws Islidably mounted for axial andradial movement in said body, axially converging surfaces on said: jaws engaging corresponding surfaces infsaid body,-.a ring carried by and axially aligned with said body and engageablewithl said jawsto effect axial movement of said jaws relative .to said body and radial movement' thereof by said corresponding surfaces into exterior contact with a. hollow forging passed throughsaid ring into said body between said jaws, said ring having a radially flared mouth, 7 an annularelement for encircling one end of said forging, axially converging surfaces on said annular element for entering said flared mouth to centersaid, forging in said chuck, and a plunger for; reflecting said axial movement of said ring and subsequent axial movement of said chuck to force-ran open axially projecting end of said forginginto said bore 1.1. A nosing-in device, comprising a die having a bore of progressively decreasing diameter, a cylindrical guide axially ali ned with said bore, a

' cylindrical chuck body slidably mounted in said guide, a series of jaws slidably mounted for axial and radial movement in said body, .axially'conengaging corresponding. surfaces 'in' said body, and axially aligned with saidybody andYengageable with said jaws to efiect axial movement of saidjaws relative to-said body and radial movement thereof by said corresponding surfaces into exterior contact with a hollow forging passed 7 through said ring into said body between said jaws, said ring having a radially flared mouth,

, anannular element for encircling one end of said forging, axially converging surfaces on said annular element for enterin'gzsaid flared mouth to center said forging in'said chuck, a plunger for effecting said axialmovement .of said ring and .subsequentaxial movement of saidichuck to force an .opentraxially projecting end of said forging into said bore, aseries of plungers carried by said body and operatingrespectively in a series ofcylinders a ring carried by means for admitting fluid to '8 carried by said guide, and means for admitting fluid to said cylinders to reverse the movement ofsaid chuck. 1 12. A nosing-in device, comprisinga die having a bore of progressively decreasing diameter, a cylindrical guide axially aligned with said bore, a

cylindrical chuck body slidably mounted'in-said guide, aseries of jaws slidably mounted for axial and radial movement in said body, axially con verging surfaces on said jaws engaging corresponding surfaces in said body, a ring carriedi'by' and axially aligned with said bodyiand engageable withzsaidjawsto eifect axial: movement of said. jaws relative to said body and radial move,- ment thereof by said corresp ending; surfacesi into exterior contact with; a: zhollo-w' forging passed through. said ring. intolsaid fbody between said jaws, a plungertfor effecting :axial movement of said: ring and subsequent .axialt movement of said chuck toiforce ancopen axially projectingendpf said forging. into said bore, a series of: plungers carried by said 'body' and operating respectively in .a' series oficylinders carriedby said guide, and means. for admitting fiuid to said cylinders-to reverserthe movementof said chuck. K 513. A nosing-in device, comprising a die having a bore of progressively decreasing diameter, a cylindrical guide axially aligned with said bore, a cylindrical chuck body slidably mounted in said guidaa series of jaws slidablymounted for-axial and radial movement in said" body, axially converging surfaces on said jaws engaging corresponding surfaces in said body, a ring'carried by and axially aligned with said body and-engageable with said jaws to elfect axial movement-of said jaws relative to said body-and radial movement thereof by said corresponding surfaces into exterior contact with a .hollow forging passed through said ring intosaid body between said jaws, a plunger for eifecting axial movement of said ring and subsequent axial movement of said ,chuck to force an open axially projectingend of said forging into said bore, a series of plungers carried bysaid-body and operating respectively in a series.v of cylinders carried by said guide, said cylinders to reverse the movement of said chuck, and a'series :of spring press plungersrcarried by said chuck .bodyand engaging said ring to reverse the move,-

ment. ofsaid ring to release said jaws. r P LE ROY LAYTON. 

